Forest Ecosystem: Hydrology and People

Forest ecosystem research examines the complex interconnections among vegetation, soil, water, wildlife, and human communities. These systems are shaped by both biophysical processes such as nutrient cycling and hydrology, climatic conditions, and human activities including land use and resource management. Hydrological functions and community livelihoods are central to ecosystem resilience, necessitating integrated approaches that balance ecological integrity with socio-economic sustainability. Forests play a critical role in intercepting precipitation, regulating runoff, recharging aquifers, filtering pollutants, and sustaining local and regional water supplies. However, increasing disturbances from logging, land-use change, and degradation threaten to disrupt these processes, leading to increased runoff, flash floods, changing groundwater levels, and deteriorating water quality. Recent years have seen increased frequency of hydrological extremes—such as intense rainfall, prolonged droughts, and accelerated glacial retreat—underscoring the need to understand the forest–hydrology–people nexus. Despite the growing awareness, gaps persist in integrated research, particularly in linking local management practices with regional or global environmental outcomes and in evaluating the long-term resilience of forest ecosystem services.This Research Topic aims to deepen scientific and practical understanding of the mutual interactions among forests, water resources, and human societies. The primary objectives integrate understanding of forest influences on hydrological cycles with assessing impacts of human activities and climate change, and evaluating management of sustainable forest–water–people relationships. We welcome original research, reviews, and case studies focused on the interplay between forest hydrology and human wellbeing at multiple scales, in any forest type, or global region.Potential themes include, but are not limited to: 1. Community-based approaches to managing forest hydrological services2. Incentive mechanisms, including payment for ecosystem services (PES)3. How forest structure influences hydrological outcomes and water quality4. Watershed resilience, restoration, and adaptive management5. Urban and peri-urban forest water management6. Local institutions and community engagement in water governance Topic editors: Gopal Shukla, Sumit Chakravarty, Pankaj Panwar, Wenjie Wang, ABHA MANOHAR K Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76544/forest-ecosystem-hydrology-and-people